3. Noosa Project Restoration Plan V12

SECTION 7 – SIGNAGE + AIDS TO NAVIGATION
TNC proposes the installation of moderate signage and essential aids to navigation. To improve visual
amenity, the signs may be placed on top of navigation markers, rather than being standalone signs on
pole structures. TNC is working with MSQ to refine signage for each site and possibly at boat ramps.

If independent signposts are installed, they would be erected in bare sediment close to the oyster reef
patches. Moorings for any buoys used for navigation purposes would also be places onto bare sediment
but close to the oyster reef patches. Signage is suggested as per the specifications given (see Figures
7.1 and 7.2) but we would prefer smaller signage, if agreeable to MSQ and other agencies. The size of
the signs given here can be amended.

Navigation aids will not impact on tidal fish habitats or marine plant communities and will be positioned
or configured to avoid the risk of trimming of marine plants e.g., seagrasses.

The suggested wording for signage includes text for restoration sites inside and outside of the declared
fish habitat areas. The wording of the signage; however, could be more ‘public friendly’ and if
permitted, will design this in contact with local MSQ, DAF and NSC offices. The signage also does not
have to be Noosa Councils specific.

The suggested signage includes a recommendation for the public not to consume oysters from the
restoration sites. While it is legal to eat wild oysters, some oysters on the restoration sites will be
derived from oyster culture and oyster gardening. These oysters will not settle naturally on the site and
may be selected by the public for consumption. Human consumption of these oysters introduces
increased risk to TNC, as the project lead. Appropriate signage can reduce the risk to consumers while
also limiting TNC’s liabilities associated with food poisoning from eating contaminated oysters.
Reducing losses of oysters from the restoration sites, due to collection, is an additional benefit.

The signage suggested here has been engineered and is RPEQ certified (Registered Professional
Engineer of Queensland) and the certification presented in Figure 7.3. The signs are re-purposed from
the previous Noosa Oyster Restoration Trial Project implemented between 2016-2020 by the University
of the Sunshine Coast (USC) and Noosa Biosphere Reserve Foundation (NBRF). The signs were removed
from the Noosa River in 2020, as per permit conditions for that project, and gifted to TNC for use in this
project.

Two of these signs have already been repurposed to mark the oyster shell curing site at Doonan Solid
Waste Depot (refer to Section 6, Figure 6.3). The signboards, brackets and poles are in near new
condition and will not be modified in any way part from changing the wording as per permit conditions.
The poles will be cleaned of any lose material and disinfected prior to re-deployment. The signboards
and brackets have been stored well and are in clean and good working order.

TNC may also place temporary signage at boat ramps, at least during the construction phase, to better
inform river users of the construction activity being undertaken.

TNC proposes the use of SL – B600 marker buoys (Figure 7.4) as suggested by MSQ as the appropriate
aid to navigation (underwater obstruction). One buoy may be placed at each end of a restoration site,
and in the middle, but this will be confirmed formally with local MSQ prior to aid selection and
deployment.



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